The Department of Energy said on Monday that they would press on the usage of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro and geothermal for the country’s power supply, though largely sourced from coal-fired power projects at present.

According to the agency, the country’s power supply is mostly sourced from coal-fired power projects because of the “relatively low price of coal and the comparatively shorter time to put up such plants.”

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said that the renewable energy sources are “still very viable power supply sources” in sustaining power generation and fuel diversity.

He also said that the government views sustained supply of power through different supply sources as a priority on the energy department, and do not favor a particular type of fuel source.

Petilla said that the energy department is focused on Mindanao short-term power shortage through completion of power projects in Davao and Sarangani. The two plants, though will still operate by coals, are seen to provide about 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power in the region by 2015 to 2016.

Petilla added that though the two plants to be complete were still coal-based, he still “foresees more renewable energy projects to come on-stream next.”

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Two nuclear power plants – each generating around 600MW – would significantly solve the power-shortage problem in Mindanao. The technology has been proven to be safe, robust, and reliable in the long run. The energy it produces is clean (no green house gases) and much cheaper than those produced by coal-powered plants.